Occupancy Rose From 77% To 94%, Finishing Miraflores Park, Large Ferry Returning, Successful Security, Treating Tourists For Sunburn & Removing Drunks From Motos, Critter Crawl In Centro Today, Double Shifts Collecting Trash, Winning Awards As A Tourist Destination In Isla Mujeres News Monday, April 1 Today's Articles: The Final Edition

..This is the live webcam at North Beach / Playa Norte (I sent an email to the Tourism Director this morning, letting him know the cam has been stuck for a coupla days)








.

 





Occupancy Rose From 77% to 94%
Prior to Easter week hotel occupancy was 77%, rising to 88% on Thursday, and on Friday it reached 94 percent. Thousands of domestic and foreign tourists have been visiting, and the statistics will be given in a report by API at the end of the holiday period. All tourism sectors benefited from the influx of visitors, despite the cold front that was present in recent days. Source: Diario Q Roo/Manuel Valdez 


Locals & Foreigners Soaking Up Sun
With improved weather and the departure of the cool winds of cold front #36, hundreds of tourists poured into the main beaches of the island for the last day of the long weekend. The ferries were running at full capacity with long lines during the morning and evening. Dozens of families were seen leaving with their luggage, who appeared to have been visiting relatives on the island. Families from all over the country were visiting, as well as residents from Benito Juarez (Cancun). Source: Diario Q Roo/Manuel Valdez  Por Esto reports that both hotels and restaurants were operating at 90% capacity and that the nautical tourism providers were doing a good business, as were other providers and merchants.PE says many domestic tourists like to stay in downtown Cancun, where there are affordable hotels. PE notes there were over a 1000 swimmers, and the most popular beaches were Playa Norte, Lancheros, and Media Luna, and that people were enjoying good food and drink, as well as massages and other relaxing activities. Tourism is expected to be increased next weekend, also.


Successful Security Operations: No Incidents
The Easter holiday security operations have been successful and with no incidents in beach areas, streets, commercial areas, or elsewhere. There have been some people arrested for being drunk and disorderly in public, and some drivers who were no longer allowed to drive their vehicles because they were under the influence of alcohol. The Harbor Master reports there have not been any problems with the tour boats such as overcrowding. Members of the Navy have been patrolling the beach and staffing a first aid tent, where they have been seeing visitors with complaints such as headaches and minor cuts. Usually they treat people with symptoms from over exposure to the sun, but the recent cool days minimized that problem. Source Diario Q Roo/Manuel Valdez  Por Esto spoke with the Chief of Police,Joaquín Poot, who reported there were 11 arrests, on the mainland and island combined, for administrative offenses such as fighting, public drinking, or being disorderly in public between Friday and yesterday afternoon. They were taken before the judge. Six motorcycles were impounded from drivers who were drunk, who may come claim them the next day with their documents. This was done to prevent accidents. There were no complaints made to the police by tourists.

Increased Trash: 40 Tonnes Daily

Director of Public Services in Isla Mujeres. Álvaro Ríos Fernández, said trash production has increased to an average of 40 tonnes daily during the Easter holidays, when normally it is just over 20 tonnes, noting that during the holidays production increases by more than 30%.  This causes trash to accumulate at the trash transfer facility, which upsets residents who live in its vicinity. The problem in complicated by the absence of the larger vehicle ferry, which left in February for maintenance. They have doubled the shifts for collection of waste at curbside. Source: Quequi/Carlos Gasca   Diario Respuesta/Jesus Molina reports waste production has increased by 10 to 15% with normal trash production being at 30-35 tonnes daily. The article notes that many domestic tourists do not eat in restaurants, and instead bring large coolers full of food and liquids, which generates more trash, adding that City employees can barely cope with keeping the beaches clean.

Miraflores Park: 70% Complete
Jesus Molina/Diario Respuesta spoke to a supervisory worker at the Miraflores park renovation, who would not give his name, saying he was not authorized to give information. He commented, "We are already well advanced in this project. With the masonry nearly finished, we just have some details to attend to, and we think in another week we will be done with this recreational area."  The workers estimated the work is 70% complete.

Larger Ferry Returning
Por Esto/Angel Paredes reports the "Isla Blanca" vehicle ferry should be back in service Wednesday or Thursday, which should decrease the congestion at the dock. The "Sergio Aguilar Grace" is smaller and has  difficulties docking when the winds increase.

Usual Consults At Hospital
The General Hospital has seen a stable flow of patients, treating cases of sunburn and diarrhea, with no unusual increases in consultations. The diarrheal diseases are occurring at a normal rate for this season, when temperatures increase to 35C. These illnesses occur when people do not eat well or eat food that was not handled hygienically or was exposed to the sun for too long. The sunburns occurred when people laid out or walked in the sun for too long without adequate protection, and involved both adults and children. There were no serious cases of sunburn or heat stroke. Source: Por Esto 


#6 Most Popular Worldwide
SIPSE/ Renán Moguel reports that TripAdvisor has listed Isla Mujeres (in its 2013 Travelers Choice awards) as sixth in the ten most popular locations in the world. Actually I think it was sixth in the list of ten most popular islands in the world. Travelocity has given us a ranking as #4, in a best value island category. TripAdvisor also listed Playa Norte as among the top 25 Caribbean beaches.  This information is available online in English, and has been mentioned in the "Last 24 hours section".

This blog is brought to you by....
MaraVilla Caribe   Bed & Beach    Three rentals with large glass doors overlooking our white sand beach and the beautiful Caribbean sea, with  kitchenettes & free WIFI. In the coastal neighborhood of  Bachilleres, among upscale villas & boutique hotelitos, convenient to downtown or the colonias, yet separate.  Quiet & Private.   
Free amenities such as hammocks, bikes, outdoor shower, portable beach chairs & beach towels, washer, loungers & BBQ. Breathtaking panoramic views from the rooftop terrace. Upstairs room also available.   Downtown is  ~ a mile away; if you don't feel like walking or biking, flag a $2 taxi or hop on the bus. We also have room for parking,You can enjoy the music & crowds downtown, then come home our quiet neighborhood of Bachilleres where you'll  sleep to the sounds of the sea..  $275/$325/$425 wk   $40/50/$65nt  Monthly Discounts

View from rooms

Small room

Large room

Fine dining a few steps away at Da Luisa or try the traditional neighborhood eateries a couple blocks farther. Stroll five minutes down the coastal sidewalk to Mango Cafe or Monchi's,shop at Chedraui or visit restaurants, bars, & beach clubs; minutes away by bike or on foot. Our guests recommend the Yoga classes a couple villas away at hotelito Casa Ixchel. Fresh juice, produce & tortillas a few blocks away in the village, as well as a pharmacy and variety of other stores and small local restaurants

Sunrise this morning from MVC B&B

At ~10:30 am...it's a beautiful sunny day!

 On the internet in the past 24 hours...

Kathryn Finn-Blume added 12 photos from March 13, 2013 to the album Mexico March April 2013. — at Capitan Dulche, Isla Mujeres.

Aqua Adventures Eco Divers Isla Mujeres We refer people to Garrafon de Castilla for shore snorkeling, it was about time Jim took some above water photos so people could see where we're sending them!

Photo & caption byBruce:  Jesus help me make it up this ladder.

Victor Manuel Cervera Cervera updated his cover photo.

Here is a sample of Ken's music, and his schedule this week....

Ken Wanovich

Tue, Apr 02 - Mamacita's, 6pm.
Thu, Apr 04 - Bahia Tortuga, 6pm.
Fri, Apr 05 - Brisas Grill, 6pm
Sat, Apr 06 - Bahia Tortuga, 6pm.
Mon, Apr 08 - Bahia Tortuga, 6pm.
Tue, Apr 09 - Mamacita's, 6pm.
Thu, Apr 10 - Brisas Grill, 6pm.


The Hair of the Dog pub crawl for Isla Animals is Today, starting at Miguel's moonlight at 1p, moving to Cheap Shots, Droppin Some NYC Deli, Bally Hoo, and finishing at 5p at Sancochos. I don't know if 300p tickets are still available, but you can join in the fun and buy your drinks....and donate if you'd like.

The Artist Fair is Thursday 4p on the Town Square..Free!

Dif Isla Mujeres

Thursday April 4 11a-2p Free ortho consults at the Senior Citizens facility (in la Gloria) El DIA JUEVES 04 DE ABRIL ESTAREMOS OFRECIENDO CONSULTAS ORTOPEDICAS GRATUITAS PARA TODO PUBLICO..DE 11:00 A.M A 2:00 P.M. EN LA CASA DEL ADULTO MAYOR...

Por Siempre Viva's photo   The Annual Breast Cancer Breakfast at Mocambo is a great way to support the cause here on Isla.  Dust off your pink hat & buy a ticket! Proceeds are used to buy prosthesis

La Asociación Por Siempre Viva les invita a su próximo desayuno del "Sombrero Rosa", todo lo recaudado sera para la donación de una Prótesis, Participa, si requieres mas información déjanos un mensaje

 "Time Lapse" of Playa Norte Webcam:  LINK  

  Playa Norte now in real time in Isla Mujeres   

  The Early Edition with the newspaper photographs and headlines is usually published around sunrise.
This Final Edition with the translated articles, plus original photos including the sunrise and the "Around the Internet in the Past 24 Hours" section usually publishes around noon.
Both blogs always have links to the original articles.
 Usually if an article is "missing",  it may have been published in another paper recently, and translated.in a previous post.
.